Roosevelt High School - Lariat Yearbook (Oakland, CA)

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r -: i CS- FOOTBALL ELEVEN lmV9 . 2 ' 7 STAN ■ ■;»»- ' -ir -v.v-T .T- ' j -v-5SCr Sixty-nine

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• x-. .. FOOTBALL Roosevelt presented a much improved football eleven over former ears ' teams for Oakland Athletic League competition in the 1927 gridiron race. Although the were able to win only one league game, the Roughriders offered stiff battles to their op- ponents. Two important events occurred during the season that made grid history for the school. First, Roosevelt won her initial victory since entering the league, and secondly, the Teddies placed on the mythical all-city team when Maurice Buck Baker, Rough- rider quarterback, was chosen to represent his position. Captain Phil Davidson earned a tackle position on the second (). A. L. squad, while Walter Rogers was given honorable mention. The team was coached by Tommy Fitzpatrick. It was the second )ear that Mr. Fitzpatrick has tutored the Roosevelt eleven and the improvement of team work over other Crimson squads was a noticeable feature of the season. Twelve men were awarded block R ' s for their pla ing during the season. Players who participated in ten or more league quarters and received blocks were : Captain Phil Davidson, tackle; Ed Loupy, fullback; Tom Rogers, half-back; Walter Rogers, tackle; Stanley Ness, end; Maurice Baker, quarterback; Gordon Nielson, guard; Joe Fitzpatrick, halfback; Harold Hopkins, center; Leroy Griffith, guard; Jimm - Hechtman, halfback; and Robert Sampson, end. Boys who did not play the required quarters to earn blocks and will be lost to the 1928 team through graduation are Clyde Beery, Russell Olsen, Tom Fletcher, Joe Kottinger, and Harley Kenne ' . Leroy Griffith, a two year letterman, will captain the 1928 Roosevelt team. At the close of the season the varsity players elected him to that position. George Magnus and Mervin Vater, prospective halfback and end, respectively, received injuries in earl - practice games that kept them from the Crimson line-up for the rest of the season. Other Teams Formed Football interest and participation was raised to a higher degree during the sem- ester with the formation of a second varsity and a 130-pound weight squad. Valuable experience was gained by players of both teams for future varsity use. The 130 ' s turned in the only victory of the lighter teams when they trounced Alameda, 12 to 0, with an offensive attack. Sixty-eight

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• ' V Coach Thomas Fitzpatrick The 130-pound squad was composed of Captain Harold Cummins, Francis Murphy, Richard Rainey, Delmer Nave, Dudley Graham, William Wilson, Sanford Smith, Francis iMarra, Louis Macke, Jake iNIor- rison, Red Denend, Tony Lomba, Ernie Roth- HB child, Howard Graham, Paul Hoffman, Ross P Xx Robinson, Joe Silva, Robert Harbison, Alva tf Merrill, Lewis Smith, Jeiome Douglas, William flE Hopper, Kenneth Aymar, Tex Laughlin, Al Silva K ' j and Norman Nielson. The team was coached W» - b ' Mr. Benjamin Gold, and the Crimson second arsity had Coach Lee Gibbs to tutor them. Interclass Series Battling through four quarters of furious play, the junior and sophomore teams foimd themselves in a 7 to 7 tie and were forced to divide the an- nual interclass championship. Crumbling before superior opponents, the senior, shop and R. O. T. C. squads were eliminated in earlier battles. The tournament opened following the close of the O. A. L. and drew keen interest from the . student bod ' . McClymonds Wins O .A. L. McClymonds won onl - three of five games, but with the record of these victories and two tie encounters, the Macs were able to take the 1927 football championship from three threatening rivals, Fremont, University and Technical. Had Fremont beaten University in the final season clash, the Tigers would have tied McClymonds for the lead. However, the Cubs scored a 10 to 7 win to insure the Mechanics the championship. Roughriders Stop Alameda Crimson boys made an early impressive showing when they upset the heavy Alameda squad, 13 to 7, in the final practice game. Previously, they dropped their first three practice encounters. Piedmont took the opening tilt, 26 to ; Galilio won, 29 to 6; and the Berkeley ' ellowjackets stung the Cowboys, 49 to 0. One Point from Victory In what proved to be one of the most thrilling battles of the 1927 O. A. L. grind, Roosevelt went down to defeat before the University Cubs, 20 to 19, in the league opener. Rooters of either section were on their feet practically throughout the game waiting for breaks and there were plenty of them. The Cubs scored on the first play of the game, but Roosevelt retalliated three plays later. Roosevelt was onl. - thirt ' ards from a touchdown when the final gun sounded. Macs Too Heavy Pounding their lighter opponent ' s line at will, the husky McChmonds eleven tore through the Crimson team to a 26 to victory in the second league chish. Roose- velt stalled the Braves ' offense for a considerable length of time during the early part of the game. However, the Teddy line gradually weakened under the tlirust of their heavier opponents imtil McClymonds scored with ease. Victory ! Memories of an eventful afternoon, October 14, 1927, will always linger amidst pleasant recollections of Roosevelt football fans. According to O. A. L. gridiron history, the Roughriders broke their traditional trait of finishing on the short end Se-voity